Plants and seeds of sorghum variety gsv206860

ABSTRACT

According to the invention, there is provided plants and plant parts of the variety designated GSV206860. The invention also relates to methods for using a GSV206860 plant to produce various plants and plant parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a new sorghum line,designated GSV206860, as well as to seed, plants, cultivars, and hybridsrelated thereto. The invention also relates to methods for producingsorghum seeds and plants from GSV206860.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a seed or plant ofsorghum variety GSV206860, a representative sample of seed of which wasdeposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______. The invention alsorelates, in an embodiment, to a method of producing a plant of varietyGSV206860 comprising an added desired trait, the method comprisingintroducing a transgene conferring the desired trait into a plant ofvariety GSV206860.

Other methods embodied in the invention include a method of introducinga single locus conversion into variety GSV206860 comprising: crossing aplant of variety GSV206860, a representative sample of seed of which wasdeposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-______, with a second plantcomprising a desired single locus to produce F₁ progeny plants;selecting one or more F₁ progeny plants that have the single locus;crossing the one or more selected F₁ progeny plants with at least afirst plant of variety GSV206860 to produce backcross progeny plants;selecting backcross progeny plants that have the single locus andessentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristicsof variety GSV206860 listed in Table 1; and repeating the crossing ofthe one or more selected F₁ progeny plants step and the selecting ofbackcross progeny plants step one or more times in succession to produceselected second or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise thesingle locus and essentially all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of variety GSV206860 listed in Table 1.

Still further, in an embodiment, the invention relates to a method ofproducing an inbred plant derived from the variety GSV206860, the methodcomprising the steps of: preparing a progeny plant derived from varietyGSV206860, a representative sample of seed of which was deposited underATCC Accession No. PTA-______, by crossing a plant of the varietyGSV206860 with a plant of a second variety; crossing the progeny plantwith itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation; growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration with itself or a second plant; and

repeating the crossing step and the growing step for an additional threeor more generations with sufficient inbreeding to produce an inbredplant derived from the variety GSV206860.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following definitions apply to the terms used herein:

The characteristic level of a trait that is presented as a rating isindicated or measured using the following 1 through 9 rating scale: 1 to2 indicates excellent, 3 to 4 indicates very good, 5 to 6 indicatesgood, 7 to 8 indicates fair, and 9 indicates poor. This scale is usedfor all traits unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Agronomic Rating. Agronomic rating is a composite rating whereconsideration is given to all agronomic characteristics that are inevidence at the location where the rating is made.

Allele. An allele is a variant of a DNA sequence at a given locus.

Alter. The term alter or alteration refers to the utilization ofup-regulation, down-regulation, or gene silencing.

Anther Color. Anther color is a description of the color of the antherson the day they are shedding pollen. The color is generally described asyellow, red, or mottled but other colors and descriptions are possible.

Anthocyanin Presence. Anthocyanin presence will be indicated by purpleor red coloration in the stalk and leaves, particularly where damage totissue has occurred. Anthocyanin presence is indicated as present or notpresent.

Awns. Awns are bristles arising from a spikelet part. Some lines have avery small awn, called a tip awn. Awn presence is indicated as presentor not present.

Backcrossing. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedlycrosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents. For example, a firstgeneration hybrid F₁ may be crossed with one of the parental genotypesof the F₁ hybrid.

Barren Plants. Plants that are barren are those that lack a head withgrain or that have only a few seeds.

Bloom 10%. Bloom 10% refers to the number of days from planting to whena line in a nursery row or field has completed 10% of the bloomingprocess.

Bloom 50%. Bloom 50% refers to the number of days from planting to whena line in a nursery row or field has completed 50% of the bloomingprocess.

Bloom 90%. Bloom 90% refers to the number of days from planting to whena line in a nursery row or field has completed 90% of the bloomingprocess.

Cell. Cell, as used herein, includes a plant cell, whether isolated, intissue culture, or incorporated into a plant or plant part.

Charcoal Rot Resistance. Charcoal rot resistance refers to a visualrating of a variety's resistance to Charcoal Rot disease.

Chinch Bug Resistance. Chinch bug resistance refers to a visual ratingof the sorghum plant's ability to grow normally when infested with alarge number of chinch bugs.

Color Intensity Score. Color Intensity score is a rating of theintensity and brightness of color for a particular variety.

Days to Flower. Days to flower refers to the predicted number of days,measured from the time of planting, required for flowers of a variety tobloom. Days to flower for the same variety may vary depending on theenvironment in which it is grown.

Days to Harvest. Days to harvest refers to the predicted number of days,measured from the time of planting, required for a variety to be readyfor harvest. Days to harvest for the same variety may vary depending onthe environment in which it is grown.

Downy Mildew Resistance. Downy mildew resistance refers to a visualrating of a variety's resistance to races 1, 3, and/or 6 of DownyMildew, a fungal disease that infects sorghum plants.

Endosperm Color. Endosperm color is described as white or yellow.

Endosperm Texture. Endosperm Texture is described as vitreous, floury,or intermediate.

Elite Sorghum Hybrid. An elite sorghum hybrid is a sorghum hybrid whichhas been sold commercially.

Elite Sorghum Parent Line. An elite sorghum line is a sorghum line whichis the parent line of a sorghum hybrid which has been sold commercially.

Embryo. The embryo is the small plant contained within a mature seed.

Essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics.This phrase refers to a plant having essentially all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the referenced plantor variety, as determined at a 5% significance level for quantitativedata.

Fusarium Head Blight Resistance*. Fusarium Head Blight Resistance refersto a visual rating of a variety's resistance to Fusarium Head Blightdisease, which is caused by Fusarium moniliforme Sheld.

Gene. As used herein, gene refers to a segment of nucleic acid. A genecan be introduced into a genome of a species, whether from a differentspecies or from the same species, using transformation or variousbreeding methods.

Genetic Complement. The phrase genetic complement is used to refer tothe aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of a plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant.

Gene Silencing. Gene silencing means the interruption or suppression ofthe expression of a gene at the level of transcription or translation.

Genotype. Genotype refers to the genetic constitution of a cell ororganism.

Glume Color. The glume refers to one of a pair of empty scales at thebase of a spikelet. Glume color is described as tan, mahogany, red,purple, or black.

Grain Set Under Bags. Grain set under bags is a measure of the selffertility of a plant. Pollinating bags are placed over the panicle priorto the initiation of flowering and remain in place until seed set can bedetermined, generally three weeks or more after flowering has beencompleted. At that time a percentage rating of seed set is made. Thiscan range from 0% (indicating the plant is pollen sterile) to 100%(indicating full pollen fertility). Intermediate ratings can indicatevarying levels of partial fertility.

Grain Weathering Resistance. Grain weathering resistance refers to avisual rating of how well the exposed grains in the sorghum head areable to retain normal seed quality when exposed to normal weatherhazards and surface molds.

Greenbug Resistance. Greenbug resistance refers to a visual rating of avarieties resistance to one or more biotypes of the greenbug insectpest. Resistance to a particular biotype is indicated by “E” (Biotype E)and/or “I” (Biotype I).

Head Smut Resistance. Head smut resistance refers to a visual rating ofa variety's resistance to this fungal disease that infects sorghumplants. The rating is based on the percentage of smut-infected plants.

Height Uniformity. Height uniformity is a rating of the uniformity ofthe height of all of the main heads and tillers for a variety.

Leaf Attitude. Leaf attitude refers to an indicator of the attitude ofthe leaves with reference to the stalk, where “E” indicates erect (leafangle [panicle to leaf axil to leaf midrib] less than about 45 degrees),“SE” indicates semi-erect (leaf angle of about 45-80 degrees), and “H”indicates horizontal (leaf angle of about 80 degrees or greater).

Leaf Color Intensity. The leaf color intensity is described as the colorintensity from very light to very dark.

Leaf Length and Width. Leaf length and width is measured by selectingthe largest leaf, after flowering, on a representative sample of plantsand measuring the maximum length and width in inches. Generally, thiswill be a leaf towards the middle of the plant.

Leaf Number. Leaf number is measured by counting the total number ofleaves on the plant after flowering. Some of the first leaves may havedeteriorated by that time, so an estimate can be made.

Locus. A locus is the specific location of a gene or DNA sequence on achromosome.

Maturity. The maturity of a variety is measured as the number of daysbetween planting and physiological maturity.

Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus (MDMV). MDMV refers to a visual rating of avariety's resistance to the Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus, type “A”.

Mid-Rib Color. Mid-rib color can be described as white, cloudy,intermediate, or brown. White indicates a dry mid-rib and stalk, whilecloudy indicates that they are juicy. Brown indicates the presence of amutant allele that conditions for a reduced amount of lignin in theplant.

Panicle Appearance Rating. Panicle Appearance Rating is a rating of theoverall panicle appearance that includes panicle type, panicle length,panicle diameter, grain color, grain color intensity, grain weathering,seed size, glume size, presence or absence of panicle diseases (i.e.fusarium head blight), and other criteria that may be important for agiven environment.

Panicle Branch Attitude. Panicle branch attitude is an indicator of theattitude of the panicle branch with reference to the stalk, where “E”indicates erect (panicle branch angle [central rachis to panicle branchaxil to panicle branch] less than about 45 degrees), “SE” indicatessemi-erect (panicle branch angle of about 45-80 degrees), and “H”indicates horizontal (panicle branch angle of about 80 degrees orgreater).

Panicle Blasting Percent. Panicle blasting percent is the percentage offlorets in a panicle aborted by a sorghum plant. This data is usuallyrecorded on cytoplasmic male sterile lines and is influenced by genotypeand environment. Presence of this condition is a deleterious trait forcommercial seed production.

Panicle Branch Length. Panicle Branch Length is measured by selectingpanicle branches from the middle of the panicle, which are generally thelongest, and measuring the length in inches.

Panicle Diameter. Panicle Branch Diameter is a measurement, in inches,of the largest part of the panicle at the stage when grain is fullymature.

Panicle (or Head) Exsertion. Panicle (or Head) Exsertion is a 1 to 9rating representing the length of the peduncle exposed between the baseof the panicle (head) and the flag leaf of the plant. A high scoreindicates more distance between the flag leaf and the sorghum head,while a low score indicates a short distance between the two.

Panicle Length. Panicle length is the length of the panicle, in inches,from the attachment point of the lowest branch to the tip of theuppermost branch in its normal orientation.

Panicle (or Head) Type. Panicle (or Head) Type is an indicator of themorphology of a sorghum plant's head (panicle), where “0” indicates anopen panicle characterized by either more distance between the paniclebranches or longer panicle branches; “SO” indicates a less open panicle;“SC” indicates a semi-compact panicle caused by shorter panicle branchesarranged more closely on the central rachis; and “C” indicates a verycompact panicle caused by very short panicle branches arranged tightlyon the central rachis.

Panicle Shape. Panicle shape is an indicator of the shape of a sorghumplant's head (panicle), where “C” indicates cylindrical, “E” indicateselliptical, “O” indicates oval, and “R” indicates round.

Plant. As used herein, the term plant includes reference to an immatureor mature whole plant, including a plant from which seed or grain oranthers have been removed.

Plant Color. Plant color results from the presence or absence ofanthocyanin pigments in the stalks and other organs of sorghum plants.The type and degree of coloration is determined by genotype and issomewhat subject to growing conditions, but varieties typically showvarying degrees of coloration ranging from: absent (tan plant) to verystrong (deep purple coloration). Ratings generally are tan, red, orpurple.

Plant Height. Plant height refers to the average height of the plant atthe end of flowering, assuming the plant is not lodged. This varies fromvariety to variety and although it can be influenced by environment,relative comparisons between varieties grown side by side are useful forvariety identification. Plant height is measured in inches, from theground to the tip of the panicle.

Plant Parts. As used herein, the term plant parts (or “sorghum plant, ora part thereof') includes, but is not limited to, protoplasts, leaves,stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, stigmas, panicles, seeds, grains,embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, shoots, tissue, cells, andmeristematic cells.

Pollen Shed Rating. Pollen shed rating is a visual rating made duringflowering indicating the amount of pollen shed, on a scale of 1 to 9,where 1 indicates heavy pollen shed and 9 indicates no pollen shed.

Pre-Flower Stress Tolerance. Pre-flower stress tolerance is a visualrating of the stress tolerance of a sorghum plant before flowering.Symptoms that indicate poor pre-flower stress tolerance include poorpanicle exertion, delayed panicle development, panicle exsertion, andflowering, and in extreme cases, abortion of the panicle.

Post-Flower Stress Tolerance. Post-flower stress tolerance is a ratingof the stress tolerance of a sorghum plant after flowering. Symptomsthat indicate poor post-flower stress tolerance include varying degreesof senescence of leaves starting with the lower leaves, pre-dispositionand infection by stalk rot organisms such as Charcoal Rot (Macrophominaphaseolina), and varying degrees of stalk lodging.

Post-Freeze Standability. Post-freeze standability is a rating of thestandability of a sorghum plant after a freeze.

Regeneration. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant fromtissue culture.

Relative Maturity. Relative maturity (RM) for a variety is based on thepredicted number of days required for an inbred line or hybrid to reachthe blooming stage from the time of planting. The RM rating is relativeto a set of known check varieties and is determined using standardlinear regression analysis.

Resistance to Lodging. Resistance to lodging is a visual rating(relative to check varieties) of a variety's ability to stand up in thefield under high yield conditions and severe environmental factors. Avariety can have good (remains upright), fair, or poor (falls over)resistance to lodging. The degree of resistance to lodging is notexpressed under all conditions but is most meaningful when there is somedegree of lodging in a field trial.

Root Lodging. Root lodging is the percentage of lodged plants of avariety caused by an inadequate root support system. If the stem of theplant leans at an angle of approximately 30 degrees or more fromvertical, the plant is considered to be root lodged.

Seed Coat Color. The color of the seed coat can be variety-specific andcan be red, brown, white, or yellow for inbred lines. For hybrids, theseed coat color may also be cream (from a white×yellow cross) and bronze(from a red×yellow cross).

Seeds per Pound. Seeds per pound refers to the number of seeds per poundof grain for a representative sample.

Seedling Vigor. Seedling vigor is a visual rating of the amount ofvegetative growth. The rating is usually taken when the average entry inthe trial is at the two- to three-leaf stage.

Selection Index. The selection index provides a single measure of avariety's performance based on a composite of multiple traits. A sorghumbreeder may utilize his or her own set of traits for the selectionindex. Two of the traits usually included are yield and days to flower(relative maturity). The selection index data presented herein representthe mean values averaged across testing locations.

Single Gene Converted (Conversion). Single gene conversion or a singlegene converted plant refers to plants that are developed bybackcrossing, genetic engineering, or mutation, wherein essentially allof the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of avariety are recovered, in addition to the single gene transferred intothe variety via the backcrossing technique, genetic engineering, ormutation.

Sorghum Midge Resistance. Sorghum Midge Resistance refers to a visualrating of a variety's resistance to sorghum midge, an insect pest thataffects seed set by infecting the head.

Stalk Lodging. Stalk lodging refers to the percentage of lodged plantsof a variety caused by stalks breaking above the ground due to naturalcauses.

Staygreen. Staygreen refers to a visual rating of a variety's ability toretain green leaf tissue. Ratings are most valuable in the presence ofheat and/or drought stress during the grain fill period.

Testweight. Testweight is a measure of the weight (in pounds) of thegrain harvested from a variety for a given volume (bushel), adjusted toa standard grain moisture content.

Threshability. Threshability refers to a visual rating (relative tocheck varieties) of the tendency of the seed of a variety to thresh freefrom the glumes.

Tillering. Tillering is a measure of the development of shoots from budsat the base of the main stem. This can be expressed as a visual rating(on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being a high degree of tillering and 9being no tillering. This can also be expressed as an actual number oftillers per plant.

Tissue Culture. Tissue culture encompasses all cultural techniques inwhich a composition comprising embryonic issues, tissue fragments,calli, isolated cells or protoplasts of the same or a different type, ora collection of such cells are organized into a culture for theregeneration of functional plants or plant parts.

Yield. This term refers to the actual yield (measured in pounds peracre) of the grain harvested from a unit area for a variety, adjusted toa standard 13% grain moisture content.

Yield Under Stress. Yield under stress is a rating of the yield of grainharvested from a unit area when such unit area is under stress, forexample, from drought or heat. This can be determined by comparing thepoints where regression lines intersect the y axis for different hybridswhen yield for the individual hybrids is regressed against the averageyield for all hybrids in the tests. A high value for y axis interceptindicates a drought and stress tolerant hybrid whereas a low valueindicates poor drought and stress tolerance.

Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of theinvention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not alimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers suchmodifications and variations as come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of thepresent invention are disclosed in or are obvious from the followingdetailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art that the present discussion is a description of exemplaryembodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects ofthe present invention.

Sorghum plants (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) have both male (anthers)and female (stigma) reproductive parts located in the same flower in thepanicle. Natural pollination occurs in sorghum when anthers shed pollenand pollen falls onto receptive stigmata. Because of the close proximityof the anthers and stigmata in the panicle, the rate of self pollinationis very high (average 94%).

In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a sorghum plant ofthe variety designated GSV206860. The inbred sorghum plant varietydesignated GSV206860 was derived from an initial cross between the linesGSV213903 and GSV302994. The origin and breeding history of the sorghumvariety designated GSV206860 can be summarized as follows:

Summer 1997 at Bishop, Tex. The inbred line GSV213903 (a proprietaryMonsanto Company inbred) was crossed to the inbred line GSV302994 (aproprietary Monsanto Company inbred) using a wet pollen emasculation innursery rows BS71 and BS75 to produce an Ft Winter 1997-1998 in PuertoRico. The F₁ was grown and selfed using pollination in nursery rowPR1135 to produce F2 seed.

Summer 1998 at Bishop, Tex. The F₂ was grown in nursery row F2-135, itwas selfed using open pollination, and the F3 selection was made. Inthis and in subsequent selection opportunities yield, stalk quality,root quality, disease tolerance, pollen shedding ability, insecttolerance, plant height, head exsertion, and stress tolerance were someof the criteria used to determine which plants were selected.

Summer 1999 at Bishop, Tex. The F3 was grown in nursery row F3-767, itwas selfed using open pollination, and the F4 selection was made.

Summer 2000 at Bishop, Tex. The F4 was grown in nursery row RI-18, itwas selfed using open pollination, and the F5 selection was made.

Summer 2002 in Plainview, Tex. The F5 was grown in nursery row C-449,and self pollinated, and the F6 selection was made.

Summer 2004 at Plainview, Tex. The F6 was grown in nursery row A1804 andself pollinated, and the F7 selection was made.

Summer 2006 at Bishop, Tex. The F7 was grown in nursery row 06 01 44 44TXBIADV_(—)00054_(—)00032. Line coded in September 2006 as GSV206860.

Winter 2006-2007 at San Juan de Abajo, MX. The F8 derived bulk in the F9was grown in 30 nursery rows with the row source designation of 06 09 4444 TXBUNUR1_(—)00034_(—)00055, it was bagged and self pollinated, andsufficient bulk seed was generated (an F8 derived bulk in the F10) toplant a seedstock increase and a pilot hybrid production block in 2008.Seed increases from that point forward were conducted by the productiondepartment.

In an embodiment, the invention relates to sorghum plants having all oressentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristicsof the inbred sorghum variety GSV206860. In an embodiment, thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the inbred sorghumvariety are set forth in Table 1. Sorghum variety GSV206860 has shownacceptable levels of uniformity and stability, within the limits ofenvironmental influence, for the traits described in Table 1. Sorghumvariety GSV206860 has been self-pollinated and head-rowed a sufficientnumber of generations to ensure homozygosity and phenotypic stability.In certain categories of variety description information, GSV206860 hasbeen compared to sorghum varieties TX2737 and OK11.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics for SorghumVariety GSV206860 and Comparative Check Varieties VALUE** CHARACTERISTICGSV206860 TX2737 OK11 1.A. STALK Plant Height (in.) 37 51.3 43.7 HeadExsertion 5 4.7 3.7 Anthocyanin Yes Yes Yes Presence Tillering 3 5.7 5.01.B. LEAF Color Green Medium Medium Dark Light Length (in.) 24 25 24.5Width (in.) 2 2.5 3 No. per Stalk. 8 11 12 Mid Rib Color (e.g. CloudyCloudy Cloudy cloudy) Attitude SE E SE 1.C. HEAD Panicle Type SO SC SOPanicle Shape E C E Panicle Length 8.5 12.5 12 (in.) Panicle Branch E ESE Attitude Panicle Branch 2.75 2.25 3 Length (in.) Grain Set Under95% >95%  0%* Bags Panicle Blasting  0%    0% 3% Percent Pollen Shed 1.02.7 9.0* Rating 1.D. GRAIN Glume Color Tan Tan Purple Awns (e.g. presentAbsent Absent Absent or absent) Seeds per Pound 21,045 15,564 12,720Grain Color Yellow Yellow White Testweight (lbs 55 60.1 59.1 per bu)Endosperm Color White White White Endosperm Intermediate VitreousIntermediate Texture Threshability 4 2 3 Grain Weathering 2 4 4Resistance 1.E. DISEASE TOLERANCE Downy Mildew - na 9.0 9.0 pathotype 1Downy Mildew - 9.0 9.0 9.0 pathotype 3 Downy Mildew - 9.0 9.0 9.0pathotype 6 Maize Dwarf na na na Mosaic Virus “A” Head Smut - Race 1 4.04.0 5.0 Charcoal Rot 3.0 2.0 Fusarium Head 2.0 4.0 6.0 Blight 1.F.INSECT RESISTANCE Greenbug na na na Biotype E Greenbug na na na BiotypeI Chinch Bug na na na Sorghum Midge 9.0 9.0 9.0 1.G. PLANT GROWTHSeedling Vigor na 5.0 6.3 Plant Color Red Purple Purple Staygreen 7.03.0 2.0 Height Uniformity 3.0 3.3 2.7 Root Lodging 0.0 3.0 3.0Pre-Flower Stress 4.0 2.0 3.0 Tolerance Post-Flower Stress 3.0 3.0 2.0Tolerance Post-Freeze na 3.0 3.0 Standability Yield Under Stress 4.0 2.03.0 Bloom 10% na 70.8 82.0 Bloom 50% 70.0 73.7 84.2 Bloom 90% na 76.586.8 Agronomic Rating 3.0 2.8 3.3 **These are typical values. Values mayvary due to environment.

In an embodiment, the GSV206860 sorghum plants of the invention areinbred. Inbred GSV206860 sorghum plants can be produced by planting theseeds of the inbred sorghum plant designated GSV206860 and growing theresulting sorghum plants under self-pollinating or sib-pollinatingconditions with adequate isolation, using standard techniques well knownto an artisan skilled in the agricultural arts.

In a particular embodiment, the present invention provides a method ofproducing an inbred sorghum plant derived from the sorghum varietydesignated GSV206860, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparinga progeny plant derived from sorghum variety GSV206860, wherein saidpreparing comprises crossing a plant of the sorghum variety GSV206860with a second sorghum plant; (b) crossing the progeny plant with itselfor a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration; (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation fromsaid seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation and crossing theprogeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant;and (d) repeating the steps for an additional 3 to 10 generations toproduce an inbred sorghum plant derived from the sorghum varietyGSV206860. In the method, it may be desirable to select particularplants resulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps(b) and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aninbred sorghum plant derived from the sorghum variety GSV206860 may beobtained which possesses some or essentially all of the desirable traitsof sorghum variety GSV206860 as well as potentially other selectedtraits. In a particular embodiment, the invention comprises an eliteGSV206860 sorghum parent plant or line.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to parts of theGSV206860 sorghum plant. Any part of the GSV206860 sorghum plant iscontemplated in this embodiment. In an embodiment, the plant part maycomprise pollen obtained from a GSV206860 sorghum plant. In stillanother embodiment, the invention comprises seed of the GSV206860sorghum plant. Seeds can be harvested from a GSV206860 plant usingstandard, well-known procedures.

In an embodiment, the seeds are inbred GSV206860 seeds. Inbred sorghumseed of the invention may be provided as an essentially homogeneouspopulation of inbred sorghum seed of the variety designated GSV206860.Essentially homogeneous populations of inbred seed may be free fromsubstantial numbers of seeds that are significantly different on agenetic basis. In an embodiment of the present invention, inbred seedmay form greater than about 97% of the total seed. In an embodiment, thepopulation of inbred sorghum seed of the invention may be essentiallyfree from hybrid seed. In some embodiments, the inbred seed populationmay be grown separately from any hybrid population to provide anessentially homogeneous population of inbred sorghum plants designatedGSV206860.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a tissue culture ofregenerable cells of a plant of the variety designated GSV206860 isprovided. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures may be derivedfrom embryos, meristematic cells, microspores, pollen, anthers, stigma,flowers, leaves, stalks, roots, root tips, seeds, or from callus orprotoplasts derived from those tissues. Means for preparing andmaintaining plant tissue cultures are well known in the art.

In an embodiment, the tissue culture may be capable of regeneratingplants capable of expressing essentially all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the GSV206860 variety, and ofregenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as otherplants of the GSV206860 variety. Still further, the present inventionprovides sorghum plants regenerated from the tissue cultures of theinvention, the plants having all or essentially all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of the variety designated GSV206860.

In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a sorghum hybridcontaining the sorghum variety GSV206860. A sorghum hybrid is the crossof two inbred lines, each of which may have one or more desirablecharacteristics lacked by the other and/or which complement the other.As used herein, crossing can include selfing, backcrossing, crossing toanother or the same inbred, crossing to populations, and the like.

In an embodiment, the sorghum plants can be crossed by either natural ormechanical techniques. Natural pollination occurs in sorghum when windblows pollen from the anthers to receptive stigmata on the same oranother plant. Mechanical pollination can be effected either bycontrolling the types of pollen that can blow onto the receptivestigmata or by pollinating by hand. These techniques are well known inthe art.

Because sorghum is normally a self-pollinated plant and because bothmale and female flowers are in the same panicle, a cytoplasmic malesterile (CMS) inbred may be used to produce large quantities of hybridseed. Cytoplasmic-male sterility is a pollen abortion phenomenondetermined by the interaction between the genes in the cytoplasm and thenucleus. Alteration in the mitochondrial genome and the lack of restorergenes in the nucleus will lead to pollen abortion. With either a normalcytoplasm or the presence of restorer gene(s) in the nucleus, the plantwill produce pollen normally. A CMS plant can be pollinated by amaintainer version of the same variety, which has a normal cytoplasm butlacks the restorer gene(s) in the nucleus, and will continue to be malesterile in the next generation. The male fertility of a CMS plant can berestored in the subsequent generation by crossing it with a plant thatcontains the restorer gene(s) in the nucleus. With the restorer gene(s)in the nucleus, the offspring of the male-sterile plant can producenormal pollen grains and propagate. Thus, in a hybrid seed productionsystem, flowers of a CMS inbred (non-restorer female parent) may befertilized with pollen from a fertile inbred (restorer male parent)carrying genes which restore male fertility in the hybrid (F₁) progeny.

The development of a sorghum hybrid, in an embodiment, may involve thefollowing steps: (1) the formation of “restorer” and “non-restorer”germplasm pools; (2) the selection of superior plants from various“restorer” and “non-restorer” germplasm pools; (3) the selfing of thesuperior plants for one or more generations to produce a series ofinbred lines, which although different from each other, breed true andare highly uniform; (4) the conversion of inbred lines classified asfemales or non-restorers to CMS forms; and (5) crossing the selected CMSfemale inbred lines with selected fertile male inbred lines to producethe hybrid progeny (F₁).

In another embodiment, the development of a sorghum hybrid may involvethe steps of: (1) planting in pollinating proximity seeds of a first andsecond parent sorghum plant (the first and second plant may be distinctinbred plants); (2) cultivating or growing the seeds of the first andsecond parent sorghum plants into plants that bear flowers; (3)emasculating the flowers of either the first or second parent sorghumplant, i.e. physically removing the anthers from the florets prior toblooming of the flowers so as to prevent pollen production or preventingdehiscence of pollen from anthers by introduction and maintenance of ahigh humidity environment by bagging a panicle or portion of a paniclewith a plastic bag prior to blooming (a “wet pollination emasculation”)or by using as the female parent a male sterile plant, thereby providingan emasculated parent sorghum plant; (4) allowing naturalcross-pollination to occur between the first and second parent sorghumplants or mechanically moving pollen from the pollen parent to thepollen sterile seed parent; (5) harvesting seeds produced on theemasculated parent sorghum plant; and, where desired, (6) growing theharvested seed into a sorghum plant, which may be a hybrid sorghumplant.

In one embodiment, the sorghum hybrid containing the variety GSV206860is a single cross hybrid. A single cross sorghum hybrid is the cross oftwo inbred plants, each of which has a genotype that complements thegenotype of the other. In this embodiment, the F₁ hybrid may be morevigorous than its inbred parents. This hybrid vigor, or heterosis, maybe manifested in many polygenic traits, including markedly improvedyields, better stalks, better roots, better uniformity and better insectand disease resistance.

In an embodiment of the invention, either the first or second parentsorghum plants can be from variety GSV206860. Thus, any sorghum plantproduced using sorghum plant GSV206860 forms a part of the invention. Inan embodiment, the parent sorghum plants may be of different varieties.In still another embodiment, the invention comprises an elite hybridcontaining the GSV206860 sorghum plant or line.

Sorghum lines are known to those of skill in the art, any one of whichcould be crossed with sorghum plant GSV206860 to produce a hybrid plant.The hybrid containing the GSV206860 sorghum plant of the invention maybe an F₁ hybrid, an F₂ hybrid, an F₃ hybrid, an F₄ hybrid, an F₅ hybrid,an F₆ hybrid, an F₇ hybrid, or any further generation hybrid.

An example of an F₁ hybrid which has been produced with GSV206860 as aparent is the hybrid A1020199. Hybrid A1020199 was produced by crossinginbred sorghum plant GSV206860 as a male parent with the inbred sorghumplant designated GSV246316 as a female parent.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of a SorghumHybrid A1020199 Containing Sorghum Variety GSV206860 CHARACTERISTICVALUE 1. STALK Plant Height (in.) 44 Tillering 3 Head Exsertion 6 PlantColor Purple 2. LEAF Length (in.) 24 Width (in.) 2.25 Midrib ColorCloudy Leaf Attitude E 3. PANICLE Length (in.) 10.75 Panicle BranchLength (in.) 3 Anther Color Yellow Glume Color Black Panicle Type 3Panicle Diameter 3.25 Awns (present or absent) Absent Panicle AppearanceRating 5 4. GRAIN Endosperm Texture Intermediate Endosperm Color WhiteGrain Color Bronze Color Intensity Score 6 Seeds Per Pound 24,850

Examples of comparative data for A1020199 are set forth in Table 3,which presents a comparison of performance data for a hybrid made withGSV206860 as one parent, versus selected commercial hybrids. All thedata in Table 3 represents results across years and locations forresearch and/or strip trials.

TABLE 3 Comparative Data for A1020199, a Hybrid Having GSV206860 as OneInbred Parent HYBRID YLD MST STL RTL BLM PUR AGR GSB SVR PHT TWT THRA1020199 6,120.10 13.7 1 0 66 2.7 4.1 9 2.9 50 59.7 3.1 6B10 5,904.6014.4 1 0 66 2.5 3.6 9 3.9 46 58.9 3.6 DIFFERENTIAL 215.6 −0.7 0.3 0 00.2 0.5 0 −1 4.7 0.8 −0.5 SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL + ** ns ns ns ns ** ns *** * + A1020199 6,429.40 13.7 1 1 65 2.7 4 9 2.9 50 59.9 2.5 DKS44-206,411.40 14.2 1 1 65 3.2 4.1 9 3.4 50 60.4 3.1 DIFFERENTIAL 18.1 −0.5−0.4 −0.4 −0.5 −0.5 −0.1 0.5 −0.6 0.7 −0.6 −0.6 SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL. ns** ns ns ns * ns ns ns * * ns A1020199 6,371.90 13.7 1 0 65 2.7 4 9 2.950 59.8 2.5 7B11 6,120.50 14.5 1 1 67 3.1 3.9 9 4.4 51 60.9 1.9DIFFERENTIAL 251.5 −0.9 0.1 −0.2 −2.4 −0.4 0.1 0 −1.6 −0.4 −1 0.6SIGNIFICANCE LEVEL * ** ns ns ** * ns ns ns ns ** * ABBREVIATIONS LEGENDAbbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning AGR Agronomic Rating PUR PlantUniformity Rating BLM Bloom 50% RTL Root Lodging (%) FNSC Final StandCount (actual count) SGR Staygreen Rating GSB Grain Set under Bags SISelection Index (% of check) MST Moisture at harvest (%) STL StockLodging (%) na Not Available SVR Seedling Vigor Rating ns NotSignificant THR Threshability Rating PHT Plant Height (inches) TWT TestWeight (pounds) PSR Pollen Shed Rating YLD Yield (bushels/acre)Significance levels are indicated as: + = 10%, * = 5%, ** = 1%

In another embodiment of the invention, a plant of sorghum varietydesignated GSV206860 comprising an added heritable trait is provided.The heritable trait may comprise a genetic locus that is a dominant orrecessive allele. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more transgenes integrated at a singlechromosomal location. In one embodiment of the invention, a plant ofsorghum variety GSV206860 comprising a single locus conversion inparticular is provided. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more additional traits. The traitsconferred may include, but are not limited to, male sterility, malefertility, herbicide tolerance or resistance, insect tolerance orresistance, disease tolerance or resistance, fungal tolerance orresistance, waxy starch, enhanced nutritional quality, modified phyticacid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.

In an embodiment, the trait may be cytoplasmically-inherited and may bepassed to progeny through the female parent in a particular cross. Anexemplary cytoplasmically-inherited trait is the male sterility trait. Acytoplasmically-inherited trait may be a naturally-occurring sorghumtrait or a trait introduced through genetic transformation techniques.

In other embodiments, the trait may be conferred by anaturally-occurring sorghum gene introduced into the genome of thevariety designated GSV206860 by backcrossing, a natural or inducedmutation, or a transgene introduced through genetic transformationtechniques. If backcrossing is used in an embodiment, essentially all ofthe desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a varietymay be recovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into theplant via the backcrossing technique.

In a backcross procedure, the parental sorghum plant which contributesthe locus or loci for the desired trait is typically termed thenon-recurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact thatthe non-recurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and,therefore, does not reoccur.

The parental sorghum plant to which the locus or loci from thenon-recurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent,as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol. In atypical backcross protocol, the original parent of interest (recurrentparent) is crossed to a second variety (non-recurrent parent) thatcarries the genetic locus of interest to be transferred. The resultingprogeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parentand the process is repeated until a sorghum plant is obtained whereinessentially all of the desired morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the transferred locus from the non-recurrentparent. The backcross process may be accelerated by the use of geneticmarkers, such as single sequence repeat (SSR), restriction fragmentlength polymorphism (RFLP), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) oramplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to identify plantswith the greatest genetic complement from the recurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The choice of the particularnon-recurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross. One ofthe major purposes is to add commercially desirable, agronomicallyimportant traits to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol willdepend on the characteristic or trait being altered to determine anappropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods aresimplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominantallele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance itmay be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine whichprogeny carry the desired allele.

As part of the invention, direct selection may be applied where agenetic locus acts as a dominant trait. An example of a dominant traitmay be a herbicide resistance trait, which, in some cases, is inheritedin a dominant fashion. For this selection process, the progeny of theinitial cross may be sprayed with the herbicide prior to thebackcrossing. The spraying eliminates any plants which do not have thedesired herbicide resistance characteristic, and only those plants thathave the herbicide resistance gene are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that a transgene neednot be directly transformed into a GSV206860 plant, as techniques forthe production of stably transformed sorghum plants that pass singleloci to progeny by Mendelian inheritance are known in the art. Such locimay, therefore, be passed from parent plant to progeny plants bystandard plant breeding techniques that are well known in the art.Examples of traits that may be introduced into a GSV206860 sorghum plantaccording to the invention are provided below.

A. Male Sterility

In an embodiment, a male sterility trait is introduced into a GSV206860sorghum plant. Any gene conferring male sterility may be utilized inthis embodiment. In a particular embodiment, the male sterility gene maybe herbicide-inducible. Male sterility genes may increase the efficiencywith which hybrids are made, in that they eliminate the need tophysically emasculate the sorghum plant used as a female in a givencross.

Where the employment of male-sterility systems is desired with a sorghumplant in accordance with the invention, it may be beneficial to alsoutilize one or more male-fertility restorer genes. For example, whereCMS is used, hybrid seed production requires three inbred lines: (1) aCMS female parent line having a CMS cytoplasm and possessing no restorergenes (also known as an “A” line); (2) a fertile inbred with normalcytoplasm that possesses no restorer genes, which is isogenic with theCMS line for nuclear genes (also known as a “maintainer line” or “Bline”); and (3) a distinct, fertile, male parent line with normalcytoplasm, carrying fertility restorer genes (also known as the“restorer line” or “R line”). The CMS female parent line is propagatedby pollination with the maintainer line, with all of the progeny beingmale sterile, as the CMS cytoplasm is derived from the female parent.These male sterile plants can then be employed as the female parent inhybrid crosses with the male restorer parent, without the need forphysical emasculation of the male reproductive parts of the femaleparent.

The presence of a male-fertility restorer gene in the male parentresults in the production of fully fertile F₁ hybrid progeny. If norestorer gene is present in the male parent, male-sterile hybrids areobtained. Such hybrids are useful where the vegetative tissue of thesorghum plant is utilized, e.g., for silage, but in most cases, theseeds will be deemed the most valuable portion of the crop. In thesecases, fertility of the hybrids in these crops must be restored.Therefore, one aspect of the current invention concerns plants of thesorghum variety GSV206860 comprising a genetic locus capable ofrestoring male fertility in an otherwise male-sterile plant. Examples ofmale-sterility genes and corresponding restorers which could be employedwith the plants of the invention are known to those of skill in the artof plant breeding.

B. Herbicide Resistance or Tolerance

In an embodiment, a herbicide resistance or tolerance trait isintroduced into a GSV206860 sorghum plant. Any gene conferring herbicideresistance or tolerance may be utilized in this embodiment. In anembodiment, the herbicide resistance or tolerance is for glyphosate,sulfonylurea, imidazalinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phenoxy proprionicacid, cycloshexone, triazine, benzonitrile, broxynil, quizalofop,nicosulfuron, acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides, or1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid-inhibiting herbicides. Numerousherbicide resistance genes are known and may be employed with theinvention.

C. Waxy Starch

In an embodiment, a waxy starch trait is introduced into a GSV206860sorghum plant. Any gene conferring waxy starch characteristics may beutilized in this embodiment. The waxy characteristic is an example of arecessive trait. In this example, the progeny resulting from the firstbackcross generation (BC1) may be grown and selfed. A test may then berun on the selfed seed from the BC1 plant to determine which BC1 plantscarried the recessive gene for the waxy trait.

D. Disease Resistance or Tolerance

In an embodiment, a disease resistance or tolerance trait is introducedinto a GSV206860 sorghum plant. Any gene conferring disease resistanceor tolerance may be utilized in this embodiment. In an embodiment, thegene may confer disease resistance to downy mildew, pathotypes 1, 3, or6; maize dwarf mosaic virus “A”; head smut, race 1; charcoal rot; orfusarium head blight. In an embodiment, the disease may be a viraldisease.

E. Insect Resistance or Tolerance

In an embodiment, an insect resistance or tolerance trait is introducedinto a GSV206860 sorghum plant. Any gene conferring insect resistance ortolerance may be utilized in this embodiment. In an embodiment, suchgene may confer resistance to greenbug, biotype C, E, or I; chinch bug;or sorghum midge.

F. Modified Phytate and Carbohydrate Metabolism

In an embodiment, a trait that confers modified phytate or carbohydratemetabolism is introduced into a GSV206860 sorghum plant. Any geneconferring modified phytate or carbohydrate metabolism may be utilizedin this embodiment. For example, phytate metabolism may be modified byintroduction of a phytase-encoding gene to enhance breakdown of phytate,adding more free phosphate to the transformed plant. A number of genesthat may be used to alter carbohydrate metabolism are well known in theart.

G. Origin and Breeding History of an Exemplary Introduced Trait

GSV548413 A is a conversion of GSV548413 to cytoplasmic male sterility.GSV548413 A was derived using backcross methods. GSV548413 (aproprietary inbred of Monsanto Company) was used as the recurrent parentand GSV160919, a germplasm source carrying A1 cytoplasmic sterility, wasused as the non-recurrent parent. The breeding history of the convertedinbred GSV548413 A can be summarized as follows:

Plainview, TX Nurseries 2003 Made up MSCO: Female row 03 10 41 41TXPLROY_00047_00029; Male row 03 10 41 41 TXPLROY_00013_00033 Plainview,TX Nurseries 2004 MSCO was grown and plants selected for recurrentparent type were backcrossed by GSV548413 B (rows 04 05 41 41TXLUNURA_00039_00077 X 04 05 41 41 TXLUNURA_00039_00078) Plainview, TXNurseries 2005 MSC1 was grown and plants selected for recurrent parenttype were backcrossed by GSV548413 B (rows 05 05 41 41TXLUNURA_00023_00092 X 05 05 41 41 TXLUNURA_00023_00093) Mt. Hope, KSNurseries 2007 MSC2 was grown and plants selected for recurrent parenttype were backcrossed by GSV548413B (rows 07 04 92 92 KSMH3B_00010_00017X 07 04 92 92 KSMH3B_00010_00018) San Juan de Abajo, MX MSC3 was grownand plants Nurseries 2007-2008 selected for recurrent parent type werebackcrossed by GSV548413B (rows 07 12 92 92 JAPV3_00037_00023 X 07 12 9292 JAPV3_00037_00024) Mt. Hope, KS Nurseries 2008 MSC4 was grown andplants selected for recurrent parent type were backcrossed by GSV548413B(rows 08 04 92 92 KSMH4A_00063_00027 X 08 04 92 92 KSMH4A_00063_00028)San Juan de Abajo, MX MSC5 was grown and plants Nurseries 2008-2009selected for recurrent parent type were backcrossed by GSV548413B (rows08 12 92 92 JAPV2A_00046_00001 X 08 12 92 92 JAPV2A_00046_00002) Mt.Hope, KS Nurseries 2009 MSC6 was grown and plants were bulk crossed byGSV548413B to generate approximately one pound of seed (rows 09 04 92 92KSMH1_00017_00001 X 09 04 92 92 KSMH1_00017_00002) Villa Hidalgo, MXNurseries MSC7 was grown and plants were 2009-2010 bulk crossed byGSV548413B to generate approximately 30 pounds of seed for pilot andseedstock production in 2010 (rows 09 12 92 92 JAPVBLK1_00027_00057 to09 12 92 92 JAPVBLK1_00027_00062 and 09 12 92 92 JAPVBLK1_00028_00037 to09 12 92 92 JAPVBLK1_00028_00060 in paired rows)

H. Illustrative Procedures for Introduction of a Desired Trait

As described above, techniques for the production of sorghum plants withadded traits are known in the art. An example of such a procedure forpreparation of a sorghum plant of GSV206860 comprising an added trait isas follows:

-   -   (a) crossing sorghum plant GSV206860 to a second (non-recurrent)        sorghum plant comprising a locus to be converted in sorghum        plant GSV206860;    -   (b) selecting at least a first progeny plant resulting from the        crossing and comprising the locus;    -   (c) crossing the selected progeny to sorghum plant GSV206860;        and    -   (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a plant of variety        GSV206860 is obtained comprising the locus.

Following these steps, essentially any locus may be introduced intosorghum variety GSV206860. For example, molecular techniques allowintroduction of any given locus, without the need for phenotypicscreening of progeny during the backcrossing steps. Polymerase chainreaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization are two examples of moleculartechniques that may be used for confirmation of the presence of a givenlocus and thus conversion of that locus.

The present invention additionally provides, in an embodiment, processesof preparing GSV206860 sorghum plants. In accordance with such anembodiment, a first parent sorghum plant may be crossed with a secondparent sorghum plant wherein at least one of the first and secondsorghum plants is the inbred sorghum plant GSV206860. One application ofthe process is in the production of F₁ hybrid plants. Another importantaspect of this process is that it can be used for the development ofnovel inbred lines. For example, the inbred sorghum plant GSV206860could be crossed to any second plant and the resulting hybrid progenyeach selfed for about 5 to 7 or more generations, thereby providing alarge number of distinct, pure-breeding inbred lines. These inbred linescould then be crossed with other inbred or non-inbred lines and theresulting hybrid progeny analyzed for beneficial characteristics. Inthis way, novel inbred lines conferring desirable characteristics couldbe identified. After at least five or more generations, the inbred plantis typically considered genetically pure. Thus, in an embodiment, theinvention comprises genetically pure inbred lines produced from theinbred sorghum plant GSV206860.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the genetic complement ofthe sorghum plant variety designated GSV206860 is provided. A geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of an inbred cell, tissue orplant. A hybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make up of ahybrid cell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides sorghum plantcells that have a genetic complement in accordance with the inbredsorghum plant cells disclosed herein, and plants, seeds and diploidplants containing such cells.

In still another embodiment, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by sorghum plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of an inbred sorghum plant of the invention with a haploidgenetic complement of a second sorghum plant, which may be another,distinct inbred sorghum plant. In another aspect, the present inventionprovides a sorghum plant regenerated from a tissue culture thatcomprises a hybrid genetic complement of this invention.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that the sorghum variety designated GSV206860 could beidentified by any of the many known techniques such as, for example,Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms, Randomly Amplified PolymorphicDNAs, DNA Amplification Fingerprinting, Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions, Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction, AFLPs, and SNPs.

A genetic marker profile of an inbred may be predictive of the agronomictraits of a hybrid produced using that inbred. For example, if an inbredof known genetic marker profile and phenotype is crossed with a secondinbred of known genetic marker profile and phenotype it is possible topredict the phenotype of the F₁ hybrid based on the combined geneticmarker profiles of the parent inbreds. Methods for prediction of hybridperformance from genetic marker data are known in the art. Suchpredictions may be made using any suitable genetic marker, for example,SSRs, RFLPs, AFLPs, SNPs, or isozymes.

SSRs are genetic markers based on polymorphisms in repeated nucleotidesequences, such as microsatellites. A marker system based on SSRs can behighly informative in linkage analysis relative to other marker systemsin that multiple alleles may be present. Another advantage of this typeof marker is that, through use of flanking primers, detection of SSRscan be achieved, for example, by PCR, thereby eliminating the need forlabor-intensive Southern hybridization. PCR detection is conducted usingtwo oligonucleotide primers flanking the polymorphic segment ofrepetitive DNA. Repeated cycles of heat denaturation of the DNA followedby annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences at lowtemperatures, and extension of the annealed primers with DNA polymerase,comprise the major part of the methodology. Following amplification,markers can be scored by gel electrophoresis of the amplificationproducts. Scoring of marker genotype is based on the size (number ofbase pairs) of the amplified segment.

In another embodiment of the invention, the method relates to theproduction of a GSV206860 sorghum plant product. The sorghum plantproduct may be selected from the group consisting of starch, syrup,protein, or any other product known in the art to be made from sorghumplants or plant parts.

Applicant has made a deposit of at least 2,500 seeds of sorghum varietydesignated GSV206860 with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC),10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209 USA, which wasassigned ATCC Accession number PTA-______. The seeds were deposited withthe ATCC on ______, and were taken from a deposit maintained by MonsantoCompany since prior to the filing date of this application. Access tothis deposit will be available during the pendency of the application tothe Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks and persons determined by theCommissioner to be entitled thereto upon request. The deposit will bemaintained in the ATCC depository, which is a public depository, for aperiod of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for theenforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will bereplaced if it becomes nonviable during that period. Applicant does notwaive any infringement of its rights granted under this patent or underthe Plant Variety Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 2321, et seq.).

All references cited in this specification, including withoutlimitation, all papers, publications, patents, patent applications,presentations, texts, reports, manuscripts, brochures, books, internetpostings, journal articles, and/or periodicals are hereby incorporatedby reference into this specification in their entireties. The discussionof the references herein is intended merely to summarize the assertionsmade by their authors and no admission is made that any referenceconstitutes prior art. Applicants reserve the right to challenge theaccuracy and pertinence of the cited references.

These and other modifications and variations to the present inventionmay be practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which ismore particularly set forth in the appended claims. In addition, itshould be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may beinterchanged in whole or in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that the foregoing description is by way ofexample only, and is not intended to limit the invention so furtherdescribed in such appended claims. Therefore, the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims should not be limited to the description of theversions contained therein.

1. A seed of sorghum variety GSV206860, a representative sample of seedof which was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-12042.
 2. A sorghumplant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3.The plant part of claim 2, further defined as pollen, an ovule or acell.
 4. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim 2.5. The tissue culture of claim 4, wherein the regenerable cells areproduced from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristematic cells, pollen, leaves, roots, root tips, anthers,pistils, flowers, seeds, or stalks.
 6. A plant regenerated from thetissue culture of claim
 5. 7. The plant regenerated in claim 6, whereinthe regenerated plant expresses essentially all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the variety GSV206860.
 8. A method ofproducing a sorghum seed, comprising crossing two sorghum plants andharvesting the resultant sorghum seed, wherein at least one of thesorghum plants is the sorghum plant of claim
 2. 9. A sorghum seedproduced by the method of claim
 8. 10. A sorghum plant, or a partthereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 9. 11. A method ofproducing a plant of variety GSV206860, a representative sample of seedof which was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-12042, comprising anadded desired trait, the method comprising introducing a transgeneconferring the desired trait into a plant of variety GSV206860.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the desired trait is selected from the groupconsisting of male sterility, male fertility, herbicide tolerance orresistance, insect tolerance or resistance, disease tolerance orresistance, fungal tolerance or resistance, waxy starch, enhancednutritional quality, modified phytic acid metabolism, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 13. The methodof claim 12, wherein the desired trait is herbicide tolerance and thetolerance conferred is to an herbicide selected from the groupconsisting of glyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazalinone, dicamba,glufosinate, phenoxy proprionic acid, cycloshexone, triazine,benzonitrile, broxynil, quizalofop, nicosulfuron, acetolactatesynthase-inhibiting herbicides, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylicacid-inhibiting herbicides.
 14. A plant produced by the method of claim11, wherein the plant comprises the desired trait and otherwisecomprises essentially all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of variety GSV206860 listed in Table
 1. 15. A method ofintroducing a single locus conversion into variety GSV206860 comprising:(a) crossing a plant of variety GSV206860, a representative sample ofseed of which was deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-12042, with asecond plant comprising a desired single locus to produce F₁ progenyplants; (b) selecting one or more F₁ progeny plants that have the singlelocus; (c) crossing the one or more selected F₁ progeny plants with atleast a first plant of variety GSV206860 to produce backcross progenyplants; (d) selecting backcross progeny plants that have the singlelocus and essentially all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of variety GSV206860 listed in Table 1; and (e)repeating the crossing of the one or more selected F₁ progeny plantsstep and the selecting of backcross progeny plants step one or moretimes in succession to produce selected second or higher backcrossprogeny plants that comprise the single locus and essentially all of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of variety GSV206860listed in Table
 1. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the single locusconfers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility,male fertility, herbicide tolerance or resistance, insect tolerance orresistance, disease tolerance or resistance, fungal tolerance orresistance, waxy starch, enhanced nutritional quality, modified phyticacid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the trait is toleranceto an herbicide selected from the group consisting of glyphosate,sulfonylurea, imidazalinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phenoxy proprionicacid, cycloshexone, triazine, benzonitrile, broxynil, quizalofop,nicosulfuron, acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides, and1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid-inhibiting herbicides.
 18. A plantof variety GSV206860, a representative sample of seed of which wasdeposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-12042, further defined ascomprising a single locus conversion.
 19. A method of producing aninbred plant derived from the variety GSV206860, the method comprisingthe steps of: (f) preparing a progeny plant derived from varietyGSV206860, a representative sample of seed of which was deposited underATCC Accession No. PTA-12042, by crossing a plant of the varietyGSV206860 with a plant of a second variety; (g) crossing the progenyplant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plantof a subsequent generation; (h) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration with itself or a second plant; and (i) repeating the crossingstep and the growing step for an additional three or more generationswith sufficient inbreeding to produce an inbred plant derived from thevariety GSV206860.
 20. A method of producing a plant product comprisingobtaining the plant of claim 2, or a part thereof, and producing saidplant product therefrom.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plantproduct is selected from the group consisting of starch, syrup orprotein.